PRE-GAME [Round 2, 2023] Broncos vs Cowboys

[Sproj]

Piakura and Willison - are they ready for a hard game is the question?

I’d like to find out sooner or later. I do suspect though Kevvie probably wants to see how they go in Q Cup for a week at least.

 

[Big Pete]

Why would you drop Palasia after the weekend? He did his job on Friday and that was one of the big reasons why the Broncos were victorious, 1-17 all had positive contributions.

 

[heartly87]

I
Just don’t get Kevvie’s love with Palasia, especially with him leaving but aside from that, the team is starting to pick itself.

Probably will not want to mess with a winning team much this year. Stability will be our focus, I just hope these young blokes are getting games somewhere because they need minutes.

 

[Sproj]

Why would you drop Palasia after the weekend? He did his job on Friday and that was one of the big reasons why the Broncos were victorious 1-17 all had positive contributions.

Because I want to, so there.

 

[theshed]

Piakura and Willison - are they ready for a hard game is the question?

Even as one of Kev’s more vocal critics, I think Palasia is the right choice. He does a fairly dependable job for the lowest paid bench forward. He should get turfed once Hetherington is match fit but until then he’s the logical choice.

Let the young fellas develop in cup.

Overall we have a really great team and Kev is 2 from 2 with selections.

 

[Sanjit Joseph]

Any timeframe on Hetherington's return??

 

[NSW stables]

Piakura's laziness in the defensive line was exposed in the QCup finals and playing for cook islands. He would be a total liability in first grade, and needs to show better efforts and urgency in QCup.

I think he has fallen into the trap of talented youngsters who were just bigger and stronger than the kids they played against and never had to work hard before, so struggles when this is required.

If he is not showing consistent performances in QCup, I am not rewarding him with a first grade shot.

 

[Sproj]

Any timeframe on Hetherington's return??

Round 5/6 last I heard.

 

[McHunt]

 

[Big Del]

It's not so much about the tribalism of sport but more the mentality. They can do whatever they want off the field and be mates with whoever they want... that doesnt bother me. What I want to see is high intensity on the field from the get go.

Against Penrith we got into the grind with them and were able to withstand them coming against us, but I didnt feel that we got onto the front foot to take it to them in their backyard... primarily in defence via quick line speed.

I do recall in Friday's game JFH standing over Cobbo when he dropped the ball on basically his first kick return, yelling and flexing in the same vein as Luai during origin.

I'd say that's in response to the grub comments that were raised in the lead up. I believe it was called a penalty instead, but the reaction from JFH suggests a wanting to get one over the opposition and gives an example of how emotion and mentality can play into the game.

These guys basically run into brick walls for 80mins every week... a level of emotion, attitude and mentality is required to put yourself through that otherwise you run the risk of being tentative into contact or looking to go through the motions, and not being able to go up a gear and match or beat the level of intent from the opposition.

It's well documented over several years of player polls that the Broncos are the team opposition players want to beat... and that can be seen basically every week when they turn up to play us and look to bash us in the initial exchanges... Tigers at Suncorp last year, Cows last year, Storm basically every game for the last 16yr.

Our boys have to be ready for a fight every week, because if you switch off or haven't turned up to run through brick walls, then suddenly the momentum goes against you and we end up with 40pt put on us.

Emotion = adrenaline = fatigue .

 

[Big Del]

Piakura's laziness in the defensive line was exposed in the QCup finals and playing for cook islands. He would be a total liability in first grade, and needs to show better efforts and urgency in QCup.

I think he has fallen into the trap of talented youngsters who were just bigger and stronger than the kids they played against and never had to work hard before, so struggles when this is required.

If he is not showing consistent performances in QCup, I am not rewarding him with a first grade shot.

Looked alright in the trials ?

 

[NSW stables]

Looked alright in the trials ?

Personally I was still concerned. When the ball went past him in defence, he would stop.

I would be stoked to be wrong but I am not seeing a reasonable return on the 400k investment we made.

 

[LittleDavey]

Piakura and Willison - are they ready for a hard game is the question?

Exactly. I don't want to say it gets "easier" the coming weeks because this squad is prone to getting our pants pulled down by bottom-of-the-table teams, but these first 2 games SHOULD certainly be the hardest of our first couple of months. Give the younger guys a chance to warm into QCup and beat the door down for a spot.

On a similar note, we have a really good chance to go on a roll at the start of the season judging by the draw. If we play like we did last week we'll be 7/7 going into the first bye (I don't think we will, but we COULD):

Wk 3 - Dragons (H)
Wk 4 - Lolphins (A but H)
Wk 5 - Tigpies (H)
Wk 6 - Raiders (H)
Wk 7 - Titans (A but just down the M1 on the GC)

Before it gets harder with games against the Eels (Darwin) , Rabbits (H), Manly (A but H for Magic Round), Storm (A) and Penrith (H) again. But if we're real challengers this year we should also aim to win most if not all of those. We could, very realistically, be something like 8-10 out of those first 12 games.

 

[Swordfish]

I would love to see those 2 blokes succeed @NRL. But given both have terrible luck with injuries and are yet to establish themselves as outright replacements for a top 17 spot, it’s best for their own good to learn the trade in Q-cup.

It is paramount for Piakura to prove his worth given his potential & pay. All in all, I trust our coaching department and Ikin’s vision for these 2. I will be very happy if they bang out max minutes in cup week in week out and gain confidence by R10.

 

[BrisbaneBunny]

Edit: Ignored staff direction

 

[Aldo]

Edit: Quoted deleted post

 

[Mustafur]

FFS why do we have to do Parras nonsense Darwin bullshit.

 

[Broncapz]

That team list is pretty quality 1-22. Best one we've had for years.